1. What the people want:
Preparing new health sciences librarians for today’s job market

2. Hello!
I’m Lydia Thorne
I’m here because I’m a new grad & health sciences librarian
You can find me

3. Take 3 minutes to introduce yourself!
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4. Agenda Health Sciences Library Job Ads Skills & Qualifications
Questions

5. Health Sciences Library Job Ads 1
My Research Project 1

6. The Job Ads Library job boards & library listservs
Special & academic libraries in Canada
MLIS required
The final count? 59 job ads

7. Coding Coding = process where data is put into categories for analysis
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8. On the Map
Jobs here!

10. Types of Library Jobs

11. Job titles

12. What about Subject Background?

13. Full Time or Part Time?

14. Permanent or Contract?
More permanent positions overall…fewer entry level positions

15. Desired Years of Experience?
Permanent Positions:
94% asked for experience
Average years of experience = 3.5
Contract Positions:
91% asked for experience
Average years of experience = 2.8

16. Image
(Vinopal, 2016)

17. Activity #1 https://goo.gl/5HpY8j
How should library science students/new graduates gain the experience needed for entry level health sciences librarian positions?

18. Stretch!
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19. Skills & Qualifications
Image:
job-skills.jpg

20. Ended up with 28 different categories for qualifications
Data Analysis
Ended up with 28 different categories for qualifications
Ended up with 28 different categories for the qualifications

21. Scholarly Communication Research Data Management
Liaison
Management
Project Management
Reference
Literature Searching
Instruction
Collections
Cataloguing
Marketing/Outreach
Copyright
Scholarly Communication
Research Data Management
Information Management
Technical Skills
Communication Skills
Time Management Skills
Analytical Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Creative
Innovative
Initiative
Customer Service
Work Independently
Teamwork
Flexibility
Attention to Detail
Professional Development
As you can see, pretty equally split between hard skills (liaison experience, instruction, reference experience) and soft skills (communication skills, time management or organizational skills, ability to work independently)

22. Here are the most desired qualifications in health sciences library job ads right now in Canada...

23. Top 3 Qualifications Time Management Communication Skills
Literature Searching

24. Special vs. Academic Special: 1. Time Management
2. Literature Searching
3. Communication Skills
Academic:
1. Communication Skills
2. Time Management
3. Teamwork

25. Permanent vs. Contract Permanent: 1. Communication Skills
2. Time Management
3. Literature Searching
Contract:
1. Time Management
2. Communication Skills
3. Literature Searching

26. Effective organization and time management skills to manage multiple projects, conflicting priorities, and tight deadlines
Time management

27. Highly developed oral and written skills, particularly the ability to explain complex concepts to a diverse user base in individual and group settings
Communication skills

28. Knowledge of literature search techniques and concepts
Literature searching

29. Ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment
Teamwork

30. Activity #2 https://goo.gl/5HpY8j
What qualifications do health sciences librarians need to be successful in today’s job market?

31. Next steps... Image Next steps:
syllabi of all 8 library schools...compare to qualifications listed in ads
qualitative data -survey
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32. Thanks! Any questions? You can find me at: @liddylib

33. References
Vinopal, J. (2016). The Quest for Diversity in Library Staffing: From Awareness to Action. Retrieved from /quest-for-diversity/

34. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free:
Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
Photographs by Unsplash & Death to the Stock Photo (license)